Electrical system for a vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle electrical system for a vehicle is described which includes an electrical energy source supplying a first vehicle electrical system branch and a second vehicle electrical system branch. The first vehicle electrical system branch include a first electrical consumer with an inrush current requirement and a first inductance connected in series with the first consumer. The second vehicle electrical system branch includes a second electrical system voltage-sensitive consumer with a minimum system voltage requirement and a second inductance connected to the second consumer in series or in parallel. The first vehicle electrical system branch and the second vehicle electrical system branch are connected electrically in parallel to one another, and the first inductance and the second inductance are magnetically coupled to one another.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle electrical system comprising:
 an electrical energy source; 
 a first vehicle electrical system branch electrically connected to the electrical energy source and having at least one first electrical consumer with an inrush current requirement and a first inductance connected in series with the first electrical consumer; 
 a second vehicle electrical system branch electrically connected to the electrical energy source and having at least one second electrical consumer and a second inductance which is connected in series or parallel with the second electrical consumer, wherein the second electrical consumer is voltage-sensitive having a minimum system voltage requirement; 
 wherein the first vehicle electrical system branch and the second vehicle electrical system branch are connected in parallel with one another, and wherein the first inductance and the second inductance are magnetically coupled to one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second inductance is connected in series with the second consumer. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy source comprises an electrical energy storage unit. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a primary winding associated with the first inductance between a first supply line and the first consumer; and 
 a secondary winding associated with the second inductance between a second supply line to the second consumer. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 4 , wherein a number of windings of the primary winding is lower than a number of windings of the secondary winding. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a common magnetic core for the first and second inductances. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first inductance and the second inductance are magnetically coupled to one another in an anti-parallel manner. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a coupling circuit arranged in parallel with the second consumer and electrical energy source, the coupling circuit having a discharge circuit including a first system node connecting the electrical energy source to the discharge circuit between the second inductance and the electrical energy source, and a second system node connecting the second consumer the discharge circuit; 
 wherein the first inductance and the second inductance are coupled magnetically in parallel to one another and the second vehicle electrical system branch; and 
 wherein the energy storage element counteracts the system voltage drop in the case of a system voltage drop. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a switching pulse generator operably coupled to the discharge circuit of the coupling circuit in the second vehicle electrical system branch for interaction therewith. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first consumer in the first vehicle electrical system branch is an electric starter motor of an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second consumer in the second vehicle electrical system branch is a system voltage-sensitive control unit. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second consumer in the second vehicle electrical system branch is a system voltage-sensitive ESP module, ECU-module or an automatic transmission control module. 
     
     
       13. A vehicle in combination with the vehicle electrical system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. The vehicle according to  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle comprises a start/stop system operable for automatically starting and stopping an internal combustion engine of the vehicle.